Georgia cop kicks pregnant woman in the stomach

A police officer from DeKalb County is in hot water for the third time in 7 months. He is now in trouble for kicking a pregnant woman in the stomach.

WSBTV reports that Officer Jerad Wheeler is being investigated after kicking Raven Dozier in the stomach when she was almost 9 months pregnant.

The news service states that no charges have been filed against Wheeler for kicking Dozier in the stomach when he responded to a call involving a child custody issue.

Dozier states that she was trying to calm her brother down during police questioning, after the police officer used a Taser gun on him.

She says she started crying and questioned the officer over his actions, which is when Wheeler is reported to have become violent.

In the video on the WSBTV web page she states, "I think he really just didn't want me asking him any questions, questioning him, and when I did question him is when he kicked me."

Raven Dozier showing the bruise on her stomach from the attack.

Video screen capture

Dozier was just short of nine months pregnant when this happened and she underwent an emergency c-section procedure two weeks later and luckily gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Even though Dozier was only days away from her delivery date, Wheeler says he could not tell that Dozier was pregnant. He explains in the official police report that he used "a front push kick to the abdomen, as he was taught to do at the academy” because she “approached him aggressively.”

A report was filed because Dozier was charged for obstruction during the altercation, but prosecutors have since dropped the charge against her.

More than four months later, Dozier is still demanding justice for the cop's actions. When Dozier initially filed a complaint the department dismissed her allegations, refused an investigation and said that the officer's actions were in the right. Apparently an internal affairs detective and at least four supervisors approved of Wheeler's actions and said that the attack was "within the department’s use of force policy."

However, Dozier's attorney, Mark Bullman told WSBTV News, “What kind of a human being kicks a pregnant woman? I mean, forget whether or not it is a police officer that is supposedly protecting people."

"He was not, he had no reason to do that, and for a higher authority to say that he is OK, his boss is wrong too. I believe that something should be done. Men go to jail every day for hitting women and it's not OK just because he is a police officer,” he added.

It has since been revealed that the officer has a history. In September last year, a 53-year-old woman reported that the officer twisted her arm and slammed her into a cop car for no apparent reason.

In January this year, Wheeler responded to a 911 call by arriving at the incorrect address. He then shot a leashed dog that was inside the wrong home's garage.

He was exonerated of both crimes.

Dozier's attorney says, "It's showing that there is an ongoing pattern and practice of attempting to clear officers of clearly illegal, unconstitutional, and improper conduct."